Let’s talk Christmas trees.
Ours is the best.
I mean… have you ever seen a more perfectly shaped tree?
Ok, ok… I know all of your trees are gorgeous too… but this is our best yet. AND I won the 3-year debate about whether you should wrap the lights in layers to create depth, or just run them up and down. Vegas JUST admitted (as I was drafting this post) that they look better layered. I win.
I’d put money on our Christmas tree decorating spread too. This cheese and charcuterie tray won the night!
There we 5 different cheeses. I went a little crazy in the gourmet cheese store. If you’re every in San Diego, you MUST stop in Venissimo. They are incredibly helpful in the shop with suggestions on pairings… and letting you try basically everything.
My favorite was the cheese soaked in Prosecco. Shocker.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNc0VriBASo/
I’ve been doing really well at eating better lately. I’ve somehow managed to lose a few during this holiday season! Hopefully I can keep this up in Mexico this weekend. Pray for me.
Read on for my whole day of eats, and link up to Jenn’s WIAW baby at Arman’s today!
Breakfast:
The usual morning cocktail followed by my vitamin gummies.
Breakfast was a favorite – eggs and bacon!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNrkJzLDJZk/
Lunch:
Soooo… Whole Foods post-workout is a bad idea. I went it for some oats and left with all this. Including tuna and salmon sushi. It’s just so yummy…
Side note: I use sriracha instead of their fake wasabi. It’s way better.
Dinner:
This was the highlight of the day. We were invited to try out a new Italian restaurant in San Diego, Ambrogio15. The Milan-style restaurant was not at all what I was expecting… it was like a gourmet restaurant focused on pizza. It’s Italian-owned and operated, and you can tell!
They place an emphasis on high quality sustainable ingredients imported from farms in Italy. This included everyone from the flour used in the perfectly charred crust (a recipe that took a year to formulate!) to the incredible list of biodynamic boutique Italian wines.
Vegas and I cracked up when I asked the owner why they have mainly Tuscan wines. I was curious since they’re from Milan, which is in Lombardy. He answered: “Because they are the best!”
Having just returned from Italy, we agreed.
As an appetizer, we took the servers suggestion and tried the burrata and zucchini carpaccio. The perfectly creamy burrata reminded me of a fresh Krispy Creme doughnut. You know that feeling – when they melt in your mouth and you could probably eat a dozen without pausing? This is the cheese version of that.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BNlGs3HhH86/
Last but very certainly not least was the pizza. We selected the Salsiccia, Mozzarella, Asiago, e Porcini. Translation: a light San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh cheese deliciousness, Italian sausage, and mushrooms.
The crust was that perfect, thin Italian-style I crave almost daily when I’m not actually IN Italy.
We devoured the whole thing, barely stopping to speak.
It’s rare… but sometimes I have better things to do with my mouth! #TWSS
We had to pass on dessert (because STUFFED), but I will certainly back to Ambrogio15 to try the tiramisu! And more focaccia. That slice that came with the burrata was among the best I’ve had!
[Tweet “Check out this gorgeous Christmas tree… and the Prosecco-soaked #cheese.”]
***
Annnnnd now I want pizza again.
Christmas tree lights: wrap and layer or run ’em up and down?
How do you like you pizza? Thin crust? Thick? Chicago-style?
Of course the lights are better when you wrap the tree!!!! And, yours is a beauty but we do have very healthy crisp trees over here on the east coast. I think the colder temps fill them out better 🙂 Speaking of filling out…that cheese board is to die for! I will now be on the hunt for “drunk cheese!” You rock.
I have to tell you… the trees are brought down form Oregon and Washington. They definitely do better in cold air!
Drunk cheese is the only cheese for me! 😉
Your tree is so cute! I almost didn’t put my up with being post operative and all but then decided I just could not put it up. Good luck in Mexico!
I bet you’re so glad you did! It makes the house so much more cheerful.
OMG I love your tree! But I also love your platter of food because that looks perfect too. 🙂
That pizza looks like perfection! And definitely wrap the lights, my husband is very particular about the wrapping so good to hear we’re not the only ones that take so much time to make the lights look perfect!
Good to know we’re not alone! My mom used to do that too when we were kids. It drove me nuts because I wanted her to hurry so we could do ornaments, but now I get it!
I am going to need some of that prosecco soaked cheese! Asap
Cheese soaked in prosecco? I need that in my life. To eat while drinking prosecco. I’m not sure what it says about me that my alcohol preference is for either bubbles or brown liquor, but it sure makes for happy taste buds. Love your tree!
Clearly you have good taste… because we drink similarly. 😉 I’m all wine or whiskey. With a side of tequila when in Mexico.
Your tree is perfect!
I love vennisimo. I like to go on Fridays when they get their burrata in.
Thank you! And thanks for the burrata tip. I didn’t know that!
a) that is a glorious tree b) how are you able to put the charcuterie table together and have it arrive in tact? I always eat all the things before they get anywhere.
It wasn’t easy… and there was lot os snacking. But it helps if you’ve just come from the cheese store, where you sampled everything. #protip
LOVE LOVE your pretty Christmas Tree, and that gourmet cheese makes me think back to our trip to Europe and all the gourmet cheese. It was such an incredible blessing to be able to buy it and try it for fun; the cheese in Europe is absolutely AMAZING.
There was so much cheese and booze in this post. It is my happy place.
Also your tree is just ok. Mine is way better. 🙂
Mine too. It’s why we’re friends.
But my tree is totally better. 😉
that cheese plate looks marvelous!
Lights are layered. Always! I didn’t even realise there was another way to do it! Ha!
Your dinner looked like heaven – that Italian pizza char crust… Nothing beats it!
There ISN’T another way to do it. That’s my point to Vegas. HAHAHA!
I have never even heard of draping lights up and down on a tree, ALWAYS wrap them around. Like the tree is a mummy! And I do have to admit, your tree is pretty perfect. Did you go out in the woods and chop… Wait. We live in Southern California.
You know I threw on my flannel (because that’s what my people wear) and chopped the damn think down myself!
Mexico! I’m jealous of your travel life!
Ummmmm… right. Because you’re not off having an amazing adventure right now. 😉
I have to agree with you, Laura. Your Christmas Tree is pretty impressive. I can smell the pine from here. The lights do look better layered! High 5 🙂 I’m also trying to lose some weight and tighten up by New Years, I was doing super good, but got some great news and have allowed myself to cheat the last few nights. But that all changes today. I’m back on track… I hope 😉
Thank you Mary. 🙂
Good news is worthy of a little celebration. Hope it brings lots of good things!!!
Holy yumminess in this post… I NEED to get to that cheese shop soon, and that zucchini appetizer looks right up my alley!
Have a blast in Mexico!! 🙂
Both were amazing. And Mexico. Though oddly… not much cheese there!
Maybe we can FINALLY get together an have a cheese adventure. I’m in town for like 2 whole weeks!!!
Wow, tons of filling food here! I agree with you on the lights, by the way! 😉
If Christmas decorating at your house comes with a spread like that I am in!!
You’re welcome any time! 🙂
I have a prelit tree but otherwise mama taught me to weave it around! We really liked the thin crust focaccia item at ambroglio15 with the veggies. Crust was spot on. Wish it were bigger haha! Happy holidays!
I really want to go back for more focaccia! The bit we had with the zucchini was crave-worthy!